Did total medical expenditures in the US increase in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Total medical costs dropped in the short-term, as non-COVID care was deferred. Although certain types of medical care increased to cover COVID 19 patients, the decrease in non-COVID medical care more than offset this increase. Patients stopped obtaining non-emergency care, ranging from screening and immunization to chronic care visits and surgery. In fact, almost half of the decrease in U.S. GDP in the first quarter of 2021 was due to reduced healthcare spending. Furthermore, much of the deferred care that drove this drop in U.S. health expenditures may never be delivered. In general, forgone care likely means worse health outcomes. As of March 2021, health care spending had still not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.